How can I donate to London fire victims?

We are helping to co-ordinate fundraising in an appeal to support the residents and neighbours of Grenfell Tower.

The fund has raised more than £5.75 million so far. Of this £2.4 million has been transferred to the London Emergencies Trust which is making the grants to the most seriously affected people now.

Money will be given to people affected by the fire, including those who have lost everything. They can use this to buy the things they need to give themselves and their families as much normality as they can get at this extraordinarily difficult time.

By donating to the London Fire Relief Fund you will be able to help those who have been injured, bereaved, left destitute or traumatised by this tragedy.

Where can I donate clothes for fire victims?

Thanks to the generosity of members of the public, more donations of clothes and food at the rest centre are currently not needed.

How can I get support if I have been affected?

People affected by the fire can go to the Assistance Centre located at the The Curve, No 10 Bard Road, Nottingdale, West London, W10 6TP. People can access services and support provided by the response team from 10am to 8pm.

If you have an outstanding need or concern related to the Grenfell Tower fire, please contact the Care for Grenfell team on 020 7745 6414 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Alternatively email careforgrenfell@rbkc.gov.uk.

What has the Red Cross doing to help?

Our emergency response volunteers have been providing practical and emotional support since the early hours of Wednesday 14 June after the fire broke out.

They were at the Grenfell Community Assistance Centre, providing practical and emotional support. Red Cross volunteers have also been at a number of ‘Safe Spaces’, working with other community volunteers to help people who may be concerned about attending official support services. Some of our volunteers are supporting bereaved families.

We also launched a fundraising appeal at the request of Kensington and Chelsea council, and a support line.

Since the outbreak of the fire, we have deployed over 1,000 volunteers, who have supported over 1,700 people – this includes support through our support line, at the community assistance centre, at Safe Spaces and through outreach work.

56 Comments

Hi Jan
We have not been involved in accommodating individual residents as Kensington and Chelsea Council provided emergency accommodation. We supported people over night at the rest centre and will continue to do so for as long as we’re needed. The council is encouraging people to stay with friends and family in the first instance, but anyone who is vulnerable, elderly or not able to find safe accommodation will be provided with emergency accommodation.
Thanks
Ros

Hi Geoff
Thank you for your kind offer of support. At the moment we do not need any volunteers to come forward. We are fully rostered for the coming days. All our volunteers are specially trained to respond to emergency situations. However, we do rely on volunteers to give hand, arm and shoulder massages so if you would be willing to volunteer your skills at any future emergencies, please consider applying to be a volunteer via our website: http://www.redcross.org.uk/Get-involved/Volunteer/Independent-living
Best wishes,
Ros

Hi Gregor
Thank you for your very kind and generous offer, but we are not involved in organising accommodation for individual residents – Kensington and Chelsea Council are organising emergency accommodation. Our volunteers have been supporting people at the group rest centre.
Best wishes
Ros

I’m not clear how this appeal differs from the Evening Standard one administered by the London Community Foundation or the Family Action one? I’m not sure that there is a need for another one, but can you please tell me how the funds given to you will be used differently and whether you will be using the funding to help people immediately, rather than in the future?

Hi Fiona,
Thanks for your message.
The British Red Cross is here to support people in crisis. Our emergency teams are on the ground helping to provide psychosocial support and to distribute clothing, food and water donated by members of the public to people affected by the blaze at Grenfell Tower. We have been asked to launch this appeal by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The funds raised will be used to help support those who have been left injured, bereaved, traumatised or homeless by this tragedy.
We will focus on helping those affected to alleviate their immediate suffering and to ensure that victims and their families do not face short-term financial difficulties. This may include using cash grants to help those affected. We will also be supporting community organisations who can distribute the funds.
Thanks,
Sam

Dear Sam,
Although this feels uncomfortable to say because of your history of critical
Support for so many in need all over the world. However, I feel uneasy that you are raising funds on the behalf of the council who has a large surplus income and whose neglect towards their housing tenants contributed to this very painful and avoidable tragedy.
Perhaps the Red Cross should support with the collation of all of the separate funds raised on the behalf of the victims rather than the Council.
Yours sincerely,

Thanks for your message. The British Red Cross is not fundraising for the council. The money raised in this fund will go towards helping the people that have lost everything in this horrific fire. Our principle of humanity guides us to support people in times of crisis. Whether that be to support local authorities during fires, floods or other emergencies or to offer support during and after the horrific attacks in Manchester and London. The British Red Cross and our thousands of volunteers are always ready to respond. We support people during a crisis and will be there after for as long as we are needed.

Hi Emma,
Thanks for your message, you support is greatly appreciated.
You could make a donation to our London Fire Relief Fund, which will support those who have been left injured, bereaved, or homeless by this tragedy.
If you need some help organising a fundraising event, you can find information on our website.
Thanks,
Sam

Hi Pat,
Many thanks for your kind offer. You can register your interest in volunteering with Kensington and Chelsea council by emailing Grenfellvolunteers@rbkc.gov.uk.
At the moment the British Red Cross does not need any more volunteers at the rest centre and are fully rostered for the coming days.
Thanks,
Sam

We’re sorry to hear you haven’t had a response yet. As far as we know, that mailbox is still being managed and its likely they have had many requests. We are making enquiries to check this and will share updated info when we have it.

Hi Peter,
The British Red Cross takes the issue of donor funds very seriously and is always vigilant in making sure all donations reach those who are most in need. The money raised will be used to assist the victims, their families and dependents. We will not take any of our administration costs out of the money raised – no staff salaries or such costs will be deducted.
Absolutely no administration costs will come out of the fund. All net proceeds will go to the victims and those affected by these terrible circumstances.
Thanks,
Sam

I wanted to get the Train from Liverpool to Euston for the day-with a suitcase full of clothes I collected, but have just priced the ticket & cannot afford the train fare, so will just have to take the clothes to a charity shop that will send them to London for me. Liverpool is grieving with you! You are not alone! God bless you all!
Lynda Capper, Liverpool

Hi Dolly,
Hi Tabitha,
Thanks for your kind offer. You can register your interest in volunteering with Kensington and Chelsea council by emailing Grenfellvolunteers@rbkc.gov.uk.
At the moment the British Red Cross does not need any more volunteers at the rest centre and are fully rostered for the coming days.
Thanks,
Sam

I am wondering who is doing the tracing/family links work, as from friends who have been on the spot the activity of establishing who might have been present and who has been located does not seem to be very evident to people. Best wishes in all that you are doing.

Hello, sorry to bother you but I couldn’t find the opening times. I have bought some sealable heavy duty plastic boxes. For all the wonderful donations. What time is the depot open tomorrow, so I can drop them off? Thank you. Justine

Hi Tabitha,
Thanks for your kind offer. You can register your interest in volunteering with Kensington and Chelsea council by emailing Grenfellvolunteers@rbkc.gov.uk.
At the moment the British Red Cross does not need any more volunteers at the rest centre and are fully rostered for the coming days.
Sam

Hi,
Thanks for your kind offer. You can register your interest in volunteering with Kensington and Chelsea council by emailing Grenfellvolunteers@rbkc.gov.uk.
At the moment the British Red Cross does not need any more volunteers at the rest centre and are fully rostered for the coming days.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Red Cross in the future, you can find out more about becoming an emergency response volunteer on our website.
Sam

We have been asked by Kensington and Chelsea council to help co-ordinate fundraising in an appeal to support the residents and neighbours of the Grenfell Tower.

Why?

Why has the council asked you to get the public to donate money? The Council owned the block, it was their decision to clad it in that material, it was their decision on how to make it fire proof which was wrong – is it not the case that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea bears the responsibility for providing what the victims of the fire need? Surely they Council should be there spending money on emergency clothing, surely the Council’s insurers should be covering the costs of all of this (and being hit in their pockets they will insist on better fire precautions in the future).

Donations are good, but only when there isn’t an organisation that has a legal responsibility to provide and the Council clearly does have a legal responsibility to provide – there are houses in that area that cost many many millions of pounds, the average price on one street was £8.5 million 2 years ago, and will be much higher now – let the council in one of the richest areas of the UK face up to the problem they have caused and pay, as they should do. The Red Cross should be willing to use its expertise to help people, it should be there to run the programme but it should tell the council that it is there full responsibility to pay for their bad decisions and that it won’t take money of the public to subsidise their lack of willingness to pay.

Other appeals, that haven’t originated in the Council, are good and worthwhile but lets not have the council asking a charity to pay for what they and their insurers should be paying for.

Hi Maire,
The British Red Cross is not fundraising for the council. The money raised in this fund will go towards helping the people that have lost everything in this horrific fire. Our principle of humanity guides us to support people in times of crisis, whether that be to support local authorities during fires, floods or other emergencies or to offer support during and after the horrific attacks in Manchester and London, the British Red Cross and our thousands of volunteers are always ready to respond. We support people during a crisis and will be there after for as long as we are needed.
Sam

Hi, I was a nurse; I was a Registered Health Visitor based at HC in Ladbroke Grove, and visited babies, families and young children in Grenfell Tower and the Lancaster West estate between 2004-2010, so I know the area.
I now work as a trained volunteer with the Spiritual Health Care (multifaith chaplaincy) team at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS trust and support families (of any religion or none) with seriously ill babies and children at the Evelina Children’s Hospital @ St Thomas’ (which required DBS check)
I emailed grenfellvolunteers@rbkc.gov.uk at 6am on Friday morning, but have not heard back. I have tried going to Westway and Kensington Town Hall, but get the same blank response that no more volunteers are needed.
Will there be a need in the next week or so, when the current volunteers need a break? Please let me know. I live nearby, in Hammersmith.
Surely there must be something I can do to help?

Thanks for your message. We’re sorry to hear you haven’t had a response yet. As far as we know, that mailbox is still being managed and its likely they have had many requests. We are making enquiries to check this and will share updated info when we have it. We will keep updating this blog and our social media channels with information on how people can help as and when new information arises.

I live outside of the area in buckinghamshire but i would be happy to offer a day of my time to help sort through and pack and prepare care packages or donated belongings if this being done in other counties on the country. I understand you are now overwhelmed with donated goods in the locality but can i help with sorting these near me? I am ill and not working but I can’t stand by helpless doing nothing. If there is a major red cross centre near maidenhead, windsor, slough region where pairs of hands are needed and I can sit down and literally sort items to send off please let me know. I dont have much to physically offer but I’m good at organising things, packing, listing things whatever. I can’t lift boxes but I can so something. I’m very upset about this tragedy. I wasnt aware of it while in hospital myself until after and it feels like one of the worst thing a community has suffered on this country since I can remember. I feel bad that I’m not strong enough to be a field volunteer as I’m not built of the strong stuff mentally and I’m quite disabled but it makes me look outside my universe and it is deeply upsetting me. I can certainly go somewhere locally to me and lend a hand.

Hi Malorie,
Many thanks for your kind offer to help. We currently have enough volunteers helping out in our response. But if you would like to consider volunteering with us in the future, you can find out more information on our website.
Many thanks,
Sam

Please could you expand on your answer on 18 June to Fiona Markey’s question of 16 June? Our neighbourhood association has raised some money that we would like to be distributed immediately and directly to victims of the fire. Is the Red Cross doing that?

Thanks for your comment. The British Red Cross will work in partnership with the London Emergencies Trust to distribute funds to those in need as a result of the fire at Grenfell Tower. This will mirror a model that was successfully employed following the London Bombings in July 2005, the Westminster attack in March 2017 and most recently for those affected by the London Bridge/Borough Market attack on 3 June 2017. We aim to make funds available to those who need them as quickly as possible. We are hoping that will be within the week. People who need cash right now are being given money by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Can I help you raise money? I would be very happy to collect in my local town centre. Maybe I could go out with a collecting bucket. These poor people are going to need so much money not just now but in the future.

Thank you for your message. Of course, we would be delighted if you could help us fundraise. Please email getfundraising@redcross.org.uk and state where you live to help us identify the local fundraiser who can help you with this.

I grew up in the area and went to school with some of the victims. I have a market stall this weekend and would like it to be an opportunity to raise money for the Grenfell Tower victims. Do you have any collection buckets or how am I able to get one to have on my stand?

Thank you for your message. Of course, we would be delighted if you could help us fundraise. Please email getfundraising@redcross.org.uk and state where you live to help us identify the local fundraiser who can help you get this sorted.

Hi Kerry,
Thanks for your comment and your offer to help. Due to the generosity of members of the public, we now have enough items. With the items that you have collected, you could donate them to your local Red Cross shop, so they can be sold in aid of the London Fire Relief Fund and turned into cash that can help people affected in the most appropriate way.
Hope this helps. Thanks.
Sam

Hi
My grandson has just had his 10th birthday and has said he would like to donate some of his toys to children affected by this terrible fire. Can you make use of them? And if so where is our nearest drop off please? We live in Maidstone, Kent.

Thanks for your message, that is very kind. Thanks to the generosity of the public, there isn’t a need for more donations of items. What we’re looking to do in the coming days is bring our expertise of logistics and of running charity shops to help what is now a large scale operation to sort and distribute donations and make the very best use of the public’s extraordinary generosity. Meanwhile people who offer items are being advised to donate them to their local Red Cross shop, so they can be sold in aid of the London Fire Relief Fund and turned into cash that can help people affected in the most appropriate way.

@Laura – I’d have to say I agree with Pat. The response when you do eventually get one is very low key and it just says there is no further need for donations (food or material) or volunteers. Would recommend that the messaging from RBKC therefore should be revised to be more positive and direct people especially those living in the Borough as to the most effective ways to channel their goodwill. Their web-site is minimal and unfortunately doesn’t inspire confidence therefore. Also might it be an idea to help with mobilising resources if some sort of matching database or ‘wedding list type’ register could be set up either by yourselves or an official government body (a bit like Buy /Sell in financial services) whereby people can log the details of what they can provide, and then there is searchable logical means for charities/churches to access resources and volunteers as and when the need arises. Win-win as then they don’t need to be bombarded with individual enquiries. At the moment it appears to be a scatter gun approach which leaves people frustrated and unsure as to whether their donations reach the source for which they are intended.

Hi I have donated.
However I read that some families don’t wish to be housed in the same locality. I have had my house for sale for health reason i am 80 yrs and can not mange. i would like the Council to buy my house for a family. It can accommodate a family of four. have emailed the council heard nothing. I live in Oxford.
Maria

It’s great the Red Cross is there to help these people. Just curious what the donations are spent on if only half goes in grants to the people and there is no involvement in the rehousing of those affected. Wouldn’t it be better to give all the donations out to those affected, or are things bought on their behalf?